OFFENSIVE STANDOUT BY THE NUMBERS Cooper, FB, had 13 carries for 48 yards in 2003. He is the Warriors' leading returning rusher, because departed Jerod Mayo (138 carries, 1,247 yards) got the bulk of the work. Cooper has 200 CDs in his music collection, got 3 hours sleep between 2-a-days and has seen the movie "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka" 50 or so times.

BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Only 15 years old and playing just his third year of organized football, Jonathan Ashe has developed into a gifted line prospect. He bench-presses 335 pounds, squats and dead-lifts more than 500 pounds and power-cleans 285 pounds. Last spring, coaches clocked him at 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash. "He's worked his hips off to get better," coach Tommy Austin said. Ashe and fellow junior Chris Calkins were moved up from JV to varsity two years ago and "as they got better, we got better," Austin said.

OFFENSE The line is the unit's strength, but the skill positions are inexperienced -- the reverse of a year ago. Unlike previous years, the Warriors do not have a standout running back and plan to rotate six players at tailback and fullback. Austin is confident enough in his line that he moved Gaddis, a two-year starter at guard, to fullback to take advantage of his blocking skills as well as keep him, and his mates, fresher on both sides of the ball. One of three QBs should emerge -- Terrance Dorsey, Nick Silvis and Keith McBride -- but all may see time.

DEFENSE The team has no star who will make plays from sideline to sideline, like Mayo last year. Instead, it is a solid unit that should improve as the season progresses. Grottke's return from a knee injury last year should shore up the interior of the line. Cooper and Ashe are good ends. Gaddis, Chad Hooker and Deron Mayo (Jerod's brother) are the linebackers. McBride, Dorsey and sophomore Dakota Mathis are in the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS Place-kickers Nicholas Alejandro and younger brother Philip return, as does punter Steven Bykowski. Silvis, the holder, also is back. The Warriors must find a consistent long snapper but have several candidates.

OUTLOOK The Warriors have won 16 games the past two years, and there's no reason to think there will be a drop-off. The lines, provided they remain healthy, should make them at least competitive every week. A place among the district leaders depends on the development at quarterback and how well the running back-by-committee works. "It's the strongest team, pound-for-pound, that we've had in my four years," Austin said.